From that day onward, Tang San trained with an intensity bordering on obsession.
His every practice carried the same burning thought.
'You wait, Bibi Dong. One day, I will tear apart the Eight Spider Lances from your body—just as you did to me'.
The resentment gnawed at him like a slow poison, fueling his cultivation but eroding his calm.
In a secluded clearing, Tang San stood before a crude makeshift puppet assembled from wood and cloth. His hands blurred as Tang Sect techniques flowed seamlessly—Mysterious Jade Hand, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, hidden weapon trajectories calculated to perfection.
Each strike landed with precision and suppressed fury.
Bang—bang—bang.
The puppet shuddered under the assault.
Just as Tang San prepared to switch techniques, a familiar presence approached from behind.
His movements paused for a fraction of a second.
When Dai Mubai approached, Tang San narrowed his eyes slightly but did not turn around immediately.
'Without Zhu Zhuqing. How far you've fallen, Mubai?'.
He remembered Dai Mubai once casually inviting him to indulge alongside him—right in front of Xiao Wu.
If Tang San hadn't considered Dai Mubai a brother in his previous life, that incident alone would have been enough to turn him into an enemy.
'It took me days to console Xiao Wu.'
Because of incidents like this, the unity of Shrek Academy had almost completely collapsed in this timeline.
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun moved together, frequently visiting brothels as a pair.
Oscar deliberately kept his distance, his heart and ambitions focused on Ning Rongrong, the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Tang San and Xiao Wu naturally formed another group.
Only superficial harmony remained.
Dai Mubai stopped a short distance away and spoke with a forced smile.
"Third Brother, you've been training really hard."
"Why don't you take some of my pills? These are cultivation resources I received recently."
He extended a small pouch. Tang San finally turned around.
His gaze lingered briefly on Dai Mubai's expression. Whatever his thoughts were, he did not voice them.
Instead, he accepted the pouch.
"Thank you."
Tang San wanted to return to his training, but curiosity gradually resurfaced.
These pills had slipped from his mind since his recovery, buried beneath relentless cultivation.
He opened the pouch, a wave of herbal fragrance rushed out.
At first, his expression remained calm.
The aroma was rich, layered—many medicinal herbs blended together.
But then—
His brows slowly knit together.Hidden beneath the surface fragrance were sharp, dangerous.
As Tang Sect's disciple, Tang San's sensitivity to medicinal materials far surpassed that of ordinary soul masters.
Among the gentle warmth and nourishing scents— He detected toxic components, if consumed long-term could have adverse effects.
'This…'
His eyes darkened.
'Some of these herbs shouldn't be combined at all.'
'Why does the smell is like combination herbs used for Power Breaker Pills?'
Tang San's heart sank slightly.
The Tang Sect that he considers himself a part of was, at its core, an assassination sect.
They did not always rely on brute force. When a target was heavily guarded or beyond normal reach, assassins would sometimes resort to Power Breaker Pills—a desperate measure.
These pills could temporarily stimulate the body's latent potential, violently increasing strength for a short period.
But the price was severe. After the effect faded, the user would be left bedridden for days, sometimes weeks. Worse still, the pill squeezed the body dry, forcibly extracting power at the cost of long-term vitality. Frequent use could permanently damage one's foundation.
Tang San's fingers unconsciously tightened.
'In my last life, Dai Mubai never had access to anything like this.'
His gaze sharpened as unease crept in.
Tang San asked Dai Mubai
"Dai Mubai," Tang San said cautiously, "I think there's something wrong with this pill."
The moment the words left his mouth, Dai Mubai's expression darkened.
"What did you say?"
His voice rose, tinged with anger.
"Tang San, I treat you as a brother. I saw how hard you were working, so I brought these pills for you."
"And now you accuse me of having ulterior motives?"
Tang San paused. Only then did he realize his words had been too blunt.
He exhaled softly and adjusted his tone.
"Mubai, that's not what I mean."
"I have some experience in pharmacology. From the smell alone, I can tell that some of the herbs used here can squeeze a person's potential."
"Short-term gains, but long-term damage."
Dai Mubai frowned, clearly unconvinced.
Suspicion flashed in his eyes. Seeing this, Tang San knew further argument would only worsen things.
So he compromised.
"How about this?"
"Let me test it. If it's genuinely a normal cultivation pill, I'll apologize to you in front of everyone."
Only then did Dai Mubai's expression ease slightly.
Still, he snorted. After all, no one liked being suspected—especially after trying to help.
"Fine," he said coldly. "Do whatever you want."
With Dai Mubai's permission, Tang San took one pill, carefully shaved off a portion, and ground it into fine powder.
Nearby, a small puppy wandered around the outskirts of the academy.
Tang San mixed the powder into some food and placed it in front of the animal.
The puppy sniffed it hesitantly—then ate it eagerly.
Almost immediately, its reaction changed.
Its eyes brightened. Its tail wagged furiously.
It began running around with surprising vigor, far livelier than before.
Seeing this, Dai Mubai crossed his arms, a smug look forming on his face.
'See, Tang San.Your suspicious nature really can't recognize goodwill.'
Tang San, who could almost read Dai Mubai's thoughts, only replied calmly:
"Why don't we wait for a day?"
Dai Mubai snorted again.
Tang San gently tied the puppy to a nearby tree, ensuring it couldn't run off.
-----
The Next Day
A furious roar echoed throughout Shrek Academy, shaking even the distant training grounds.
"HE CAI——!!!"
The voice was filled with rage.